Research suggests deer could be a possible source of human infection

Douglas Watts, Ph.D., right, professor of biological sciences at The University of Texas at El Paso, and Pedro Palermo, manager of the UTEP Border Biomedical Research Center’s Biosafety Level 3 Infectious Disease Research Program laboratory, are authors of a study that proves for the first time that COVID-19 is present in white-tailed deer in Texas, a finding published recently in Vector-Borne and Zoonotic Diseases.
Photo: J.R. Hernandez / UTEP Marketing and Communications

Scientific Frontline: "At a Glance" Summary: Research Suggests Deer Could Be a Possible Source of Human Infection

• Main Discovery: White-tailed deer in Texas have been found carrying SARS-CoV-2 neutralizing antibodies, providing the first reported evidence of COVID-19 infection among deer in the state and indicating that the virus is widespread in this abundant wildlife species.
• Methodology: Researchers analyzed blood samples collected from male and female white-tailed deer of varying ages in Travis County, Texas, during the first two months of 2021, amidst the ongoing pandemic.
• Key Data: Evidence of SARS-CoV-2 neutralizing antibodies was discovered in more than one-third (37%) of the sampled deer, a prevalence rate comparable to the 40% rate previously identified in deer populations across states like Illinois, Michigan, Pennsylvania, and New York.
• Significance: The presence of COVID-19 in white-tailed deer expands the known geographical range of the virus in UTEP animal populations and suggests that deer could serve as a potential reservoir for the transmission of SARS-CoV-2 to humans, wildlife, and domestic animals.
• Future Application: Subsequent investigations will aim to further explore the mechanisms of COVID-19 transmission between humans and animals, helping to develop strategies that mitigate the risks associated with deer acting as a source of human infection.
• Branch of Science: Biology, Epidemiology, Virology

Research conducted by Douglas Watts, Ph.D., professor of biological sciences at The University of Texas at El Paso, has found COVID-19 present in white-tailed deer in Texas. A report on the discovery was published recently in Vector-Borne and Zoonotic Diseases, a peer-reviewed journal focusing on diseases transmitted to humans by animals.

The UTEP team found the first reported evidence of SARS-CoV-2 infection in deer from Texas, which widens the previously reported geographical range of COVID-19 among deer in the United States, further confirming that infection was common among the species.

“The one thing we know best about SARS-CoV-2 is its unpredictability,” Watts said. “Therefore, the transmission of the virus from infected deer back to humans, while not likely, may be possible.”

While the mechanisms of COVID-19 transmission between humans and animals is still being investigated, the UTEP team’s study suggests that deer should not be neglected as a possible source of SARS-CoV-2 infection among humans as well as domestic and wildlife animals. Watts said subsequent investigations should work to mitigate any risks associated with deer as a possible source of human infection.

The study’s lead author was Pedro Palermo, manager of the UTEP Border Biomedical Research Center’s Biosafety Level 3 Infectious Disease Research Program laboratory. Palermo explained the results of this research raise many questions regarding infection and transmission of SARS-CoV-2 among wild and domestic animals.

“UTEP works to address challenging issues through its research,” said Robert A. Kirken, Ph.D., dean of the College of Science. “This project is a great example of that because it has the potential to make an impact on the health of people throughout the country.”

Watts’ team studied blood samples collected from deer of various ages in Travis County, Texas, during the first two months of 2021, amid the pandemic. Evidence of SARS-CoV-2 neutralizing antibodies was found in more than a third of the samples, including a significant prevalence among deer that were 1.5 years old, indicating that the disease is rampant among one of the most abundant wildlife species, particularly among males.

The 37% antibody prevalence observed in this study is comparable to the 40% rate reported in deer in other states including Illinois, Michigan, Pennsylvania and New York.

Funding: The research was funded by a grant from the National Institutes on Minority Health and Health Disparities, a component of the National Institutes of Health.

Published in journal: Vector-Borne and Zoonotic Diseases

Title: SARS-CoV-2 Neutralizing Antibodies in White-Tailed Deer from Texas

Authors: Pedro M. Palermo, Jeanette Orbegozo, Douglas M. Watts, and John C. Morrill

Source/Credit: University of Texas at El Paso

Reference Number: bio122421_02

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